Last week I had a sneak preview inside the new Everyman Cinema in Endless Street which opens tomorrow (Friday 2nd June). I have to say it all looks very swish and a much better proposition that the empty, boarded up establishment of just a few months ago.

The building was originally established as the Regal Cinema and officially opened by Sir James Macklin on 22 February 1937.

The site chosen for the new Regal Cinema was on the corner of Endless Street and Chipper Lane, a site previously occupied by Chas. Gilbert Kempe, a physician and surgeon to Salisbury Infirmary.

A full house of 1,608 patrons attended on the opening night – 964 in the stalls and 644 in the circle, to see the latest Shirley Temple film, Captain January.

It was during the 1940s that the Regal (or ABC as it became known) had set up the first the first major Saturday cinema club for children – The ABC Minors. The club cost sixpence a time and the children would marvel at the likes of Flash Gordon and Lassie. Occasionally the children were treated to live music from a local group.

In 1968, the ABC applied to the City Council to change the use of its Salisbury cinema to include games and in particular, Bingo. The following year ABC announced that films would cease to be shown at the venue from 25 January 1969 and despite petitions against the decision, the cinema closure went ahead.

The final week saw packed houses for the showing of ‘Bullitt’ starring Steve McQueen, where outbursts of jeering greeted screen notices about the future operation of a Bingo Club at the premises.

So now the old Regal cinema has come a full circle and I am delighted to see it returning to its original purpose. I wish the new venture every success.